Riding the City of New Orleans Amtrak on a train trip to Memphis & Graceland.
Montage Pic: Keith's pics from trip.
I recently took a wonderful first time trip to Memphis so I could go to Graceland and enjoy the Memphis Blues, Soul Music and authentic BBQ's.
And I hadn't taken a train trip anywhere in about 30 years – I recalled the “City of New Orleans” trip our family took to D.C. by train that had been expected to take about 24 hours but wound up taking almost 30+ hours due to folks trying to do the unsafe task of “beating a train” and getting hit!
Taking a train really frees you up to enjoy the backwoods scenery views, get little travel fatigue, take some walks while someone else is driving, catch up on some reading and journaling, meeting other near folks and having some fun times like I did!
I so look forward to when they complete the Baton Rouge to New Orleans train planning so I can take this way to my beloved 'Yat hometown.
It's neat to think that the Mississippi River connects Memphis to us in so many cultural ways, as I was one day taking a jog along the river in Memphis and they had a nice historical write up about the connection between our area and Memphis with a note about John Audubon, who had also stayed there like St. Francisville.
I even got a “taste of New Orleans” in Memphis on my jog one day as I just happened to chance upon a parade that was held in honor of some refugee that had been helped by the city.
It's amazing how their famous Beale Street reminded me so much of our New Orleans Bourbon Street, as there were many varied and fun artists I would see as I strolled down the street with people trying to get you to come into their fun entertainment with lures of all kind of great food and drinks available.
I'm so glad I took the suggestion of my Lyft driver to go to a kind of hole in the wall place not too far from Beale Street, the Cozy Corner, and I had there some of the best ribs, beans and coleslaw I've ever had!
It was so cool to pass by on Beale Street the B. B. Kings Blues Club, which I unfortunately couldn't get to due to a reported gas leak that had occurred there, but I really enjoyed meeting and getting some of local tip advice from my waitress, Tasha, as well as the great delicacies at the Blues City Cafe' next door.
And I'm so glad I got to stay at an Airbnb – the “Blue Suede Studio” - right around the corner from Graceland. I had so much fun going through that tour of Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion and just all the different historical tidbits about his background family.
I brought my Martin Backpacker mini-guitar with me on the trip, so it was fun playing Elvis songs like “Hound Dog” and “City of New Orleans” by Arlo Guthrie for others on the train and at Graceland – especially for some photo-ops and great official Graceland pic depictions with Elvis and in front of the mansion.
So I can definitely say that taking a train is a wonderful way for follow Elvis' famous advice: T C B – Taking Care of Business … and I must confess the following:
Memphis / Graceland – I “Can't Help Falling In Love” with you!
And I look forward to going again to "Walking In Memphis!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgRafRp-P-o
“City of New Orleans” song by Arlo Guthrie with Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXJqBZS79bc
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, khorcasitas.yahoo.com, October 13, 2023.
Sounds like a great trip where you really soaked in the vibes.
City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie is one of my favorite songs. Reminded me of my trip from Grafton, WV, the hometown of Mother's Day to Washington DC and back on Amtrak right down to the capital at Union Station for Transpo 73.
I have driven through Memphis several times but never stopped to soak up the ambience like another of my favorite blues singers, BB King. I never had any desire to see Graceland but have always admired Elvis's velvet voice.
Personal journals are full of potential, waiting for you to add the color! Pages for you to fill in the blanks with tidbits and trivia about the state of Washington.
Montage Pic: Keith's pics from trip.
